Button-stenciling machine.



H. HASTINGS.

BUTTON STENCILING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 2, 1912.

151 88,648 Patented June 27, 1916.

I0 SHEETSSHEET I.

H. HASTINGS.

BUTTON STENCILING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAILZ. 1912.

I Patnted June 27, 1916;.

I0 SHEET$-SHEET 2.

Jkrer Jzasii'ngs H. HASTINGS BUTTON STENCILIN G MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.21912.

Patented J 11116 27, 1916.

I0 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Emu WM ,Hrber Kasai 95 H. HASTINGS.

BUTTON STENCILING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 2, 1912.

'1 9 1 88,648 Patented June 27, 1916.

l 0 SHEETS-SHEET 4- 'vi% 97 96 LL; 1 5.96

49 a L A WITNESSES: INVENTOR firwflhsuzy' s "ATTORNEYS H. HASTINGS.

BUTTON STENCILING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 2. 1912.

Patented June 27, 1916.

I0 SHEETS-SHEET 5- 1/ III! H. HASTINGS.

BUTTON STENCILING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.2 1912.

1 1 88,648 Patented June 27, 1916;

10 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

- l r 'l IIII H. HASTINGS.

BUTTON STENCILING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 2, 1912. I

' Patented June 27, 1916.

I 0 SHEETS-SHEET 7- WITNESSES:

M ATTORNEYS H. HASTINGS.

BUTTON STENCIUNG MACHINE APPLICATION FILED MAR. 2, 1912. I Patented June. 27 1916.

I I I 108 I p 5 5 M 76.0 l 151 m INVENTOR 676$) ATTORNEYS \VITNESSES:

H. HASTINGS.

' BUTTON STENCILING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR- 2; 912.

1,188,648. 4 I PatentedJune 27, 1916.

. IOSHEEIS-SHEET 9. 113 135' WrrNEssEs= INVENIOR "u'a ATTQRBIEYS H. HASTINGS. A

BUT TON STENCILING MACHINE APPLICATION FILED MAR. 2.1912.-

gtnted Jun' 27,, 1916.

10 SHEETS.SH EET 1o.

gm 'l mvENToR" ATTORNEYS I UNITED STATES; PATENT onr oa HERBERT HASTINGS, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GERMAN AMERICAN BUTTON COMPANY, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

nur'ro'n-s'rnncrnme MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 27, 1916.

Application filed March 2, 1912. Serial N 0. 681,810.

I of Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Button- Stenciling Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a. full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,

forming a part of this'specification, and to the reference-numerals marked thereon.

My present invention has for its ob ect to provide a machine for automatically performing the stenciling operations necessary in applying patterns or designs, in one or more colors, to buttons, particularly those made of vegetable ivory.

To this end my invention has for its further object to provide a machine inwhich the button blanks may receive one, or a plurality of superposed patterns, 'or stencilings, and at the completion of the operation be carried away, or transported, without coming in contact'with each other or with other objects until after the fluid has become dry.

My invention has for its further object to provide devices for carrying the button blanks and the stencils in juxtaposition to each other during the period that the stenciling fluid is being applied, and at the c o1n pletion of this operation to discharge or remove the button from the carrier and thereafter to submit the latter and the stencils to the action of chemical agents'which will free them of all traces of the stenciling fluid, and then dry said parts in readiness to receive other button blanks.

Another feature of my invention resides in the mechanism by which the button blanks are placed in the pockets of'the car rier successively and in like positions, thus assuring that the patterns will be positioned alike on all buttons either in reference to the perforations of the buttons or other characteristic features thereof.

Further, my invention comprehends .a

'novel mechanism for applying the stenciling ing pointed out in the claims at the end of the specification.

chine stenciling In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevatlon partly in section of a button stenciling machine, constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2 isa top plan View thereof; Flg. 3 is a side elevation of the devices for placing the button blanks in the carrier;

Fig. 4. is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken on the line I -4; of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the hne 5 x of Fig. 3; Figs. 6 and 7 aresimilar views taken on the lines 6"6 and 7 7 of Fig. 3; Fig. 8 is a transverse 'sec tional view of the button its driving mechanism 8 8 of the taken on the line of F1g. 2; Fig. 9 is a detail view maln drlving mechanism of the ma- Fig. 10 is an enlarged detail view of the right hand'side of the machine, as shown in Flgs. 1 and 2; Fig. 11 is an enlarged plan view of the take-ofi or trans portlng mechanism; Fig. 12 is 'a vertical sectional view on theline 12 ---12 11; Fig. 13' is an enlarged detail view taken on the line 13"'13 of Fig. 12; Fig. 14 is a similar view taken on the line PI -4Q of Fig. 12; Fig. 15 is a detail sectional .view showing the transferring of the button from the carrier to the transporting devices; Fig. 16 is a sectional view taken on the line 16 16 of Fig. 11, showing the button in transit from the carrierto the conveyer; Fig. 17 is a detail view showing the button carrier showing.

of Fig.

deposited on the conveyer; Fig. 18 is a plan new of a stencil frame showing an arrangement of three stencil charts thereon;

detail sectional view of the spraying nozzle taken on'the line 22"-22 22 is a detail faceview of the air outlet orifices of the sprayhead taken on the line 22"-22 of Fig. 22; Fig. 23 as atop plan view showing the means of mounting the spraying nozzles; Fig. 24 is a side elevation showing the cluster of air blast nozzles used for drying the parts; Fig. 25 is a detail view showing the pivotal support of said nozzles; and Fig. 26 is a detail sectional view showing the arrangement of the conveyer belts.

Similar reference numerals throughout the several figures indicate the same parts.

of Fig. 21; Fig.

A stenciling machine constructed in accordance with my invention comprises generally a revoluble disk or carrier provided on its periphery with .pockets or slots for the button blanks, and supporting above the latter the stencil supporting frames, which advance and retract relatively to the button pockets during the rotary movement of the carrier. The latter is mounted on an inclined axis and is inclos'ed within a drum or pan-shaped frame containing the fluid or chemical solution employed for cleaning the stencils and those parts of the mechanism which would otherwise become clogged with the stenciling material. The arrangement of the axis of the carrier in the manner described permits its lower edge to continually pass into and emerge from a bath, while its upper edge is always above the level of the bath, at which point the stenciling solutions are sprayed over the parts, and received on the underlying buttons.

Buttons are introduced into the pockets of the carrier by devices for transferring them from a point to which they are delivered by the sorting mechanism, which picks out individual buttons from large quantities contained in the hopper. These transferring devices are designed to pick up the buttons on fingers, or projections, cooperating with the apertures or eyes of the buttons, and successively deposit them in the pockets on the carrier.

After the stenciling operations the buttons are taken ofi or removed from the carrier by the transporting devices and subsequently deposited onto a slowly traveling belt or conveyer, the transporting devices being timed relatively to the movement of the button carrier and the conveyor, and i also comprising an arrangement of parts whereby the buttons are distributed across the face of a comparatively wide belt, this scheme permitting a large number of buttons to be accommodated on a short, slowly traveling belt, and ample time provided whereby the stenciling solution may become thoroughly dried before the buttons are allowed to come in contact with one another.

In the machine which 1 have illustrated as showing one embodiment of my invention, the main frame comprises the pedestal 1, carrying the inclined pan having the bottom 2 and the surrounding wall 3, forming a receptacle adapted to contain fluid which may be introduced through a pipe 1 and its level maintained at the desired elevation by the overflow pipe 5. At the center of the pan is an upwardlyextending sleeve 6, in which is journaled a shaft 7 attached to the disk 8 which carries the button pockets or seats and the stencil frames. This arrangement of the parts is shown more in detail in Figs. 2, 8, 18 and 19, to which reference will now be made. The disk 8 is provided about its periphery with a series of button pockets or each pocket is a slot 10 and above the slot is a pair of ways in which is guided the stenc1l frames 15, carrying in the present instance the three stencil charts A, B and C, preferably formed by cutting the desired patterns in a thin metal sheet, clamped on the underside of the frame 15, and exposed through the aperture therein, as shown in Figs. 18 and 19. In the operation of the machine the frames 15 are first retracted into a position to expose their respective button pockets and are then advanced successively to position the first, second and third charts over the button, where they dwell momentarily while the stenciling solution is being sprayed from the nozzles A, B, Fig. 21. The radial reciprocatory movement of the frames 15 on the disk 8 is accomplished by means of a cam track 16 in an underlying circular frame 17 supported on the sleeve 6, said cam track receiving the studs 18 on the frames 15, which project through the slots 10, and on their lower ends carry anti-friction rollers 19.

The outline of the cam track 16 is shown in Fig. 2. At the point marked 16 the stencil chart frames are retracted or moved inwardly on the carrier so as to uncover or expose the underlying button pocket to facilitate the insertion of the buttons therein. This is termed the receiving position. Beyond this point the cam track curves outwardly in a wave line forming the successive steps 16*, 16 and 16, which are concentric with the center of movement of the carrier disk 8. This particular arrangement of the cam is provided in order that the chart frames will be alternately and intermittently projected to successively position the charts A, B and C of each over the button pockets, and upon each movement 3e allowed to dwell for a brief period during the application of the spray. Beyond the point 16 the cam is curved to retract the chart frames at the point 16 again uncovering the button pockets to permit the removal of the buttons by the transporting mechanism. The lower portion of the carrier disk 8, and approximately one-half of the disk,

is constantly submerged in the bath of cleanthey reach their lowest point, they are held in projected position by a portion 16' of the cam track to permit them to be subjected to the somewhat forceful action of streams of cleaningfluid issuing from small orifices or jets in the nozzles and 20 extending laterally from the pipe 4 and arranged on opposite sides of the plane of the disk or. carrier 8. The cleaning fluid, it will be understood,

is introduced into the pipe 4 by a suitable form of pump 4, which, together with the overflow pipe 5, communicates with a suitable reservolr 5. The last step in the movement of the stencil frames 15 occurs after the latter are carried out of the bath, then they are reciprocated by the portion 16 of the cam track, during which time they are thoroughly dried by blasts of air applied to their upper and lower surfaces by means ,of a plurality of nozzles arranged as shown in Figs. 21, 24 and 25, said nozzles being oscillated, as will be more fully described hereinafter.

Rotary movement is imparted to the disk 8 by means of suitable driving mechanism, which produces an intermittent step by step movement. The particular mechanism which I have employed for driving the disk or carrier is illustratedindetail in Figs. 8 and 9, and comprises the large gear wheel .22 attached to the shaft 7 beneath the bottom 2 of the pan or outside fra ne. At one side of the latter is the driving pinion 23 journaled on a stud'24, to which motion 5] is imparted by the worm 25 (Fig. 9) 00- operating with spherical roller projections 26 on the hub of the pinion 23. The thread of the worm 25 is not a true spiral, .but comprises parts of different pitch for vary- Eio} ing the speed of travel of the disk or carrier 8. One portion of the threadv causes the disk to move slowly at the time buttons are being inserted in and removed from the pockets at difierent points in its circumference and. while the stenciling material is being applied to the stencils. The other portion of the thread imparts an accelerated. movement to the disk to bring new or successive pockets into the positions just re ferred to. The worm 25'isrotated by the pair .of gears 27 one of which is attached to a short shaft carrying tight and loose drive pulleys 28.

The spraying apparatus is located at the high side of the machine and may comprise one or more spray nozzles such as A and B, as shown in Fig. 21. These are preferably adjustably mounted on a cross piece 30, having the upturned slotted ends 31 which receive the clamping bolts 32 by means of which said bar is capable of vertical and angular adjustment on its supports 33. Each ofthe spray nozzles is carried on a horizontal arm 34 projecting laterally from the screw 35, which bymeans screws 35.

of the nuts 36 maybe moved upwardly ordownwardly to position the. nozzle at the desired elevation relatively to the edge of the disk or carrier 8 and the stenciling charts thereon.

Each spray nozzle is provided with a valve stein 37,, the outer end of which is attenuated to form a cleaning pin which pro-- jects through the tip of the nozzle when the latter is closed to prevent it becoming clogged by foreign substances or sediment on or about the outlet orifice as the result of the gummy nature of some of the stenciling solutions. The valve stems of the sevor accumulations which may tend to gather eral nozzles are operated periodically .by

trip levers, indicated by A B and C (Figs. 10 and 21) pivoted upon outwardly extending brackets 38 on the adjusting In their normal position the pins 37 are retracted, the orifices in their respective nozzles remaining open, the operating levers of each of said pins being operated in one direction by contractile springs 39 (Fig.21). The pins, however,

. are retracted and normally held in this position, but the, valves are closed momentarily by trip levers A B, C on a rock shaft 40 (Fig. 10) connected by .a lever 41 and a link 42 to another lever 43, which is one 25, and each of which coe'perates with a cam 45, rotating with the driving worm 25. The member 45 is in effect three different cams, since two of thelevers cotiperate with the edges of its outer face while the third engages the cam slot in one of its side faces.

. of three levers pivoted on a stud 44 underneath the frame in proximity to the worm- The lever 43 is provided with a roller 46 whic h drops into the notch or depression 46 on the periphery of the cam once for each complete revolution thereof, which permits the spray nozzles to be closed momenthe button. pockets 9 capable of vertical movement, or movable in a directiontranss verse to the plane of their support, the disk 8. The detail of this construction is shown in Fig. 19, where the button illustrated in the form of an annular ring having the button-seat 9 in its upper face. This ring is also fitted in an annulus 47, said parts being so formed as to provide the pocket 9 is themwith opposing shoulders at opposite f sides of a recess in which may be arranged a coil spring 48 normally serving to depress the pocket and hold it in its lowermost position, the downward movement thereof being limited by the laterally projecting ends of pins or fingers 49 fitting in small slots in the outer wall of the ring 9. These ring pockets are elevated periodically to position the face of the button close to the chart by means of fingers A, B, C on a rock shaft 5O journaled between the frame pieces or standards 33. The shaft 50 is oscillated by a depending lever 51 connected by the rod 52 with the lever 53 pivoted on the stud 44 carrying the roller 54 riding on the periphery of the cam 45, and once in each revolution thereof dropping into the recess 54*, permitting the spring 55 to move the lever 51 so that the three button pockets engaged by the levers A*, B and (1* will be held elevated during the time the corresponding charts are held stationary on the disk 8 by reason of the concentric portions 16*, 16 and 16 of the cam slot.

The air blast nozzles for facilitating the drying of the stenciling charts and button pockets, as they emerge from the bath, comprise a series of nozzles 60, some arranged above and others below the plane of the disk 8, and all supplied with compressed air conveyed through the pipe 61. These nozzles are adapted to oscillate so that the air current may be distributed over a wide area, and to this end some of them arev mounted on a head 62 (Fig. 25) journaled on a stud 63 on an arm 64 projecting inwardly from the wall 3 of the pan. At one side of the,

head is a pair of lugs to which is attached, by a pin 65, a rod 66 connected to a lever 67, pivoted at 68 and attached to its lower end by the link 69 to the lever 70. The latter, it

will be noticed, is provided with the roller 71 which travels in the cam slot 71 of the cam 45. The outline of this slot may be varied, but it is preferably of such a shape that the air blast nozzles will be oscillated inwardly and outwardly during each retarded step of the disk or carrier 8.

In a machine of this character the construction of the spraying nozzle is important, and in Figs. 21, 22 and 23, I have shown an arrangement of parts forming.

part of my present invention, which constitute a nozzle particularly adapted for use in an automatic stenciling machine of the character described. The nozzle comprises a cross shape casting having the laterally extending tubular arms 75 and 76 the former being connected by a pipe with. a receptacle not shown, containing the dye or stenciling solution, while the other arm is connected to the chamber of an air compressor. The downwardly extending arm of the casting, indicated by 77, isprovided with the central liquid passage 75 and "the air passage 76 which latter terminates in an annular channel surrounding the liquid passage, as shown in Fig. 22*, and from which areacas the air issues in a practically continuous tubular air sheet. Screwed into the lower end of the passage 7 5 is the atomizing tip 78 within which ,is the valve seat 78, which is normally opened by the conical shaped portion of the valve pin 37, the reduced end of which is smaller than the bore of the nozzle and projects into the latter. The exterior cap or atomizing tip, indicated by 79, is supported on the arm 77 and its lower conical end is of such shape and length that a narrow space surrounds the extremity of the fluid nozzle 78.

The spraying nozzle is supported in a frame formed of two arched members 80 on the end of the arm 34, said side pieces being connected at their lower ends where they are united by suitable fastening devices 81 with the sides of the cross casting. This arrangement of the parts permits the nozzle to be held in such a position that the pipe connections may be conveniently made between the ends of the arms 75 and 76, and a free space also provided for the operation of the lever A cooperating with the combined valve and cleaning rods 37. The latter, it will be noticed, has an adjustable connection with the operating lever A? by means of the screw threaded nuts 83. The valve rod is also moved in the direction to close its conical end against the valve seat 78 by means of a coil spring 84 operating against a shoulder on the rod and the inner side of the top of the cap which incloses it.

The transferring devices for carrying the buttons from the point at which they are deposited and placing them on the seats 9 of the button pockets are illustrated in detail in Figs. 3 to 6. The buttons are placed ea massc in a hopper 85 having an inclined bottom, as shown, provided with suitable assorting devices by means of which single buttons may be selected and deposited in a tubular chute 86 through which they will descend and finally be delivered at the end of the chute as shown in Fig. 4. The chute is so shaped that each button will come to a position of rest with its outer face uppermost, and the extremity of the chute overlies a circular lip 87 on a rotary head 88,

and provided with a plurality of recesses 87*, 87 87 and 87, forming button holders, which during the rotation of the head pass successively beneath the end of the chute. The delivery of buttons into the chute by the assorting devices of the hopper is so timed relatively to the rotation of the head 88 that they are only deposited singly into the apertures 87, 87", 87 and 87 The head 88 is journaled on a sleeve 89 in the form of a stationary standard on which is a segment shaped rim or button supporting platform 90, which underlies the apertured lip or flange 87 and is cut away at one side to accommodate'the edge of the disk or car- I by step movement to place its pockets successively beneath the apertures 87, 87", 87

and 87 as shown in Figs: 4 and 5,-saidparts being timed in their rotary movement so that the successive pockets on the carrier 8 register with said button apertures in the 1 disk 87.

The head 88 is provided with perforated bosses 87, 87, 87 and 87 in alinement with which, and at the upper end of the head, are ears 91, said bosses and ears forming bearings for rotating the vertically movable but-.

ton pickers 88, 88 88 and 88. The several button pickers are similarly constructed, and a description of one of these in detail will answer for all.

The picking devices of the transferring mechanism comprise tubular shafts as indicated by 88 and 88 in Fig. '4, which are slotted transversely at their lower ends, and provided with fingers 92 pivoted at 93,- and having at their lower ends pins 94 of a size suitable to engage in the eyes of the buttons. Coiiperating with the upper ,endsof the fingers 92, for the purpose of moving them to adjust the pins 94 according to the spacing of the eyes of difierent buttons, is ascrew threaded rod 95 which is adjustable longitudinally in the tubular shaft, and is provided with a conical point by means of which the distance between the upper ends of the fingers 92 may be. regulated. Cooperating with the outer edges of these fingers is a collar 92 having the inwardly beveled lower edge and operated in one direction by the yielding spring 92*, whereby the pins 94, which are slightly beveled as shown in Fig. 4, may be held separated in such a position that they will frictionally engage with the sides of the eyes of the button, and serve to' transport the latter.

A strippersurrounds the lower end of the pickers in the form of a sleeve 96 provided midway of its length with offset shoulders 96*, one of which forms a bearing 'for one end ofvthe spring 92', while the other forms a similar bearing for the somewhat stronger spring 96*, the upper end of which bears against the top of the boss in which these parts are inclosed, and serves to project the lower end of the sleeve beyond the ends of the fingers 92 for the purpose of stripping the buttons from the pins 94 and locating it on the button seat 9. The upper end of the. sleeve 96 is provided with a collar 96 .having a laterally projecting finger 96, ex-

tending through a slot 96 inthevhead 88 and provided at its end with an antifriction roller 96, which, as the head 88 rotates, cooperates with the cam surface 97,;and causes the stripper sleeve 96 to be held in inopera- .tive position as shown at the right hand side of Fig. 4, or released and moved into the stripping position as shown at the left hand side of said figure.' The picker shafts are also elevated to carry them lower extremities over the end of the button chute'86, and to this end each of said shafts is provided with an adjustable collar 98 with which the upper end of the sleeve 96-co6perates, the

be caused to engage the eyes of the buttons, and the handling of the latter in this way is preferred as it not only lessens the liability of injury to the surface of the button,

but also insures the positioning of the button on the pockets of the machine in such a way that the stencil patterns will'be ap plied to each button in precisely the same EOSltlOII. The rotary movement is obtained y providing each of the shafts 88, 88*, 88 and 8 8" with the pinions 89, 89", 89

and 89 which are keyed to their respective,

shafts between the pairs of ears 91, and mesh with the teeth of the stationary gear 99. The gear 99 and the cam surface 97 are preferably formed at the upper and lower ends of the collar 100 rigidly attached to the sleeve 89. The head 88 journaled on the sleeve 89 is rotated by the shaft 101, which is journaled in the sleeve, and is connected to the head by the face plate 88 and key 88 On the lower end of the shaft .101 is a gear wheel 101' driven by the gear wheel 22. The shaft 101 is also utilized to drive the selecting mechanism in the hopper 85, to which motion is imparted bya pair of bevel gears 101 The button transferring devices just described, it will be noticed in Fig. 2, occupy a position at one side of the axis of the disk or carrier 8 so that the buttons will be inserted in the pockets 9 when the stencil frames 15 are retracted by the portion 16 of the cam which operates them. Occupying a similar position at-the opposite side of the axis of the carrier is the take-off, or

transporting mechanism, which operates to remove the buttons successively from the various pockets when the stencil frames are retracted by the portion 16 of the stationary cam track. The detailed arrangement of the transporting mechanism is shown in Figs. 11 to 17 inclusive.

The transporting devices comprise a disk 105 provided with a plurality of peripheral apertures 105, revolving upon an axis formed by the shaft 106, extending downwardly at a slight angle to a vertical line parallel to the shaft 7, and'journaled in the part of the frame indicated by 106, part of which extends laterally, as indicated by 107, Fig. 12, and serves'to support other portions of the mechanism; cooperating with the disk .105. The latter overlaps the edge of the disk 8 sufficiently so that its various apertures 105 will be caused to register with the button pockets 9, and these parts are driven in unison by the gear wheel 106", on the shaft 106,'meshing with the gear wheel 22, on shaft 7. Underlying the rim of the disk 105 is a stationary ring sector 108, mounted on the portion 107 of the frame, and projecting therefrom at one side between the overlapping edges of the disks 8 and 105, as shown in Fig. 13. This plate the button grippers, or centering devices,

and the elevating members which raise said buttons out of their pockets. This action is accomplished by means of a plurality of projections or heads 109 on the stud shaft 110 revolving in timed relation to the disk 8 so that the heads move into and out of the successive pockets 9. The shaft 110 is mounted in the bearings 110 and rotated by a pair of gears 111, one of which may be integral with the gear wheel 106 as shown in Fig. 12. The heads 109 fit within the button pockets 9 and are adapted to raise the buttons off of their seats 9 into the position shown in Figs. 13 and 15, so that each button in its onward movement will be transferred onto the station ary plate 108, and will slide along the latter until it reaches the point where it is discharged therefrom.

The button holders or centering devices, comprise narrow arms undercut at their lower edges and having downwardly extending projections 112 at their extremities, which are adapted to extend over and engage the periphery of the buttons without contacting with any material portion of the faces of the buttons. These grippers are carried upon spring arms 113, the outer ends of which traverse a semicircular cam track 114, a portion of which, indicated at 1145*, is of such a height that it will hold the grippers in inoperative position, as shown in Fig. 15, and will release them so that they may pass into the position shown in Fig. 16 in engagement with the button when the latter is elevated off of its seat by one of the studs 109, and at about the time the buttons slide onto the plate 108, as shown in Fig. 13. The button being thus held is carried along insects on the slide-way orplate 108 until the end of the latter is reached at the point indicated by 108, when it passes onto the distributer which causes successive buttons to be dropped onto the conveyer belt 115 in various positions across said belt, as indicated in Fig. 11,\ by the dotted circular lines 116.

The distributer is in the form of a ring 117 journaled eccentrically of the take-ofi disk 105 on a shoulder 118 on a part 107 of the frame. The distributer lies close to the underside of the disk 105 and is rotated in timed relation thereto by the gear wheel 119 on the shaft 106 meshing with the pinion 120, which cooperates with the internally toothed gear ring 117 on the ring 117. At opposite sides of the ring 117 are slots 117 and 117 which uncover the apertures 105 as they pass beneath them. The ring 117 rotates in a direction opposite to the movement of the disk 105, and also at a considerably faster rate of travel, the timing, however, of these parts being such that the buttons will be dropped from successive pockets onto the conveyer in spaced relation, no two buttons being in contact.

Overlying the spring fingers 113 carrying the grippers are similar snapper springs 125, which are offset as shown in Fig. 11, and provided with downwardly extending pins 125 (Fig. 17 having a lower inclined end acting as cam surfaces by which these springs are elevated by engagement with the sides of the notches 117 and 117, said notches being also provided with lateral extensions, or otherwise made of sufficient width to release the pins and permit the springs 125 to rap the button holder and prevent the button from adhering to the grippers should the stenciling solution be of a sticky or gummy nature and tend to adhere to the narrow edges of the grippers when in a moist condition.

The conveyer onto which the stenciled buttons are deposited for the purpose of drying, is a traveling surface in the form of a belt as before mentioned, and indicated by 115, which may be of any desired length, but preferably of such an extent that the stenciling solution applied to buttons will become thoroughly dried before they reach the end of the travel of the conveyer, after which they may be deposited directly into a box or receptacle, as will be understood. In the drawings the belt 115 is shown as passing around a broad faced pulley 130 (Figs. 12 and 14) rotated by a worm gear wheel 130 driven by a worm 130 on a shaft carried'in a bearing 130 having at its lower end a pinion 130 meshing with the gear wheel 106". In order to bring the edges of the conveyer into proximity with the under 4 mounted on the frame pieces, and those re- 1 devices for feeding buttons into said pockets edges, which rest upon said belt throughout its length with the exception of that portion surrounding the pulley 130. At this end of the conveyer the bolts 115 and 115 are supported on smaller rollers 131, as shown in detail in Fig. 26.

In the operation of applying the stenciling material I prefer to do this by atoinizing nozzles and to carry on the spraying operation in a practically continuous manner, only discontinuing it at sufficiently frequent intervals to permlt the nozzles to be cleared out. In practice this is accomplished very quickly by the dropping of the valve stems or cleaning-out pins 37, which occurs when the roller 46 passes into the depression 46 in the cam 45. This operation is timed to areas covered by. the stenciling fluid dischargedtherefro-m do not embrace or cover the stencils until they have been moved outwardly and fully cover the underlying buttons where they are for the time being held stationary in these positions.

To facilitate the cleaning of the stencils of any superfluous fluid thereon, a rotary brush may be arranged to cooperate with the stencils before they enter the cleaning solution, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 20.

A button stenciling machine of the character here shown and described is adapted to operate continuously and handle large quantities of buttons. Various sizes of buttons may be treated, it being only necessary to change the seats or pockets on the carriers as occasion may require. The thin.

sheets of metal. or other material, from which the stencils arecut, are removably quired for producing dififerent and varied patterns may be readily applied or removed.

I claim as my invention; 1. In a button stenciling machlne, the

combination with a movable carrier pro-. vided with button pockets and stencils movable on the carrier during its movement, of

successively and other devices for subsequently removing the buttons from thepockets.

2. In a button stenciling machine, the combination with a movable carrier having button seats thereon and stencils mounted on the carrier, of means for moving said stencilsto cover and uncover buttons on the carrier.

seats and feeding devices ,cotiperating with the carrier to successively position buttons on said seats.

3. In a button stenciling machine, the combination with a continuously traveling carrier provided with button seats, of stencils guided on said carrier, and means for reciprocating them during the movement of the carrier to cover and uncover buttons arranged on said seats.

4. In a button stenciling machine, the combination with a movable carrier provided with button seats, and stencil chart frames guided on the carrier, of stencil charts carried by the frames, means for reciprocating said frames during movement of the carrier and means for applying a stenciling substance to the charts.

5. In a button stenciling machine, the combination with a movable carrier and button seats arranged in spaced relation thereon, of movable stencils on the carrier arranged one for each button seat, and means for adjusting said stencils into positions on the carrier to successively cover and uncover the button seats.

6. In a button stenciling machine, the combination with a continuously movable carrier, a plurality of stencils thereon and a of the carrier.

7. In a button stenciling machine, the combination with a carrier adapted to be moved continuously provided with' button seats, of a plurality of stencils'on said carrier adapted to be successively positioned over each button seat and means for operating them into positions above their'respective button seats at different points in the movement of said 8 In a button stenciling machine, the combination with acarrier provided with button seats and means for moving it continuously in one direction, of a plurality of stencils on said carrier arranged one behind the other and adapted to be positioned successively over their respective seats, of means for'advancing said stencils at different points in the movement of the carrier, said means also acting to retract the chartsto uncover the button seats.

9. In a button stenciling machine, the combination with a carrier provided with button seats, a plurality of stencils arranged in sets, one set for each seat, of a cam track cooperating with said sets of stencils and arranged to successively project each set of stencils relatively to its respective seat.

10. In a button stenciling machine, the combination with a carrier provided with button seats, a plurality of sets of stencils, one set for each seat, each of said sets comdifferent stenciling substances during the diif'erent periods of dwell stenciling charts.

11. In a button stenciling machine, the combination with a plurality of buttonpockets arranged successively, of a plurality of of the difierent sets of stencils each comprising a plurality of stencil charts and arranged one set for each pocket, of means for reciprocating each set of stencils relatively to its respective pocket, said means being adapted to perm t each separate stencil chart to assume a position of rest over its respective pocket during a portion of the movement of the latter, and devices for applying a stenciling substance to the charts during each period of rest.

12. In a button stenciling machine, the combination with a plurality of pockets arranged in spaced relation, frames reciprocat: ing over said pockets, and a plurality of stencils carried on each frame, of means for advancing each frame by a step by step movement to successively position the stencils thereon over their underlying button pocket, said means acting at two points in the travel of a pocket to cause said frames to be moved to a position to uncover them,

means for inserting buttons in the pockets.

in one of said positions and mechanism for removing the buttons from the pockets when the latter reach the second position.

13. In a button stenciling machine, the combination with a rotatable disk having butt-on pockets arranged on its periphery, stencils carried on the disk and means operating during the rotary movement of the disk to adjust the stencils successively from positions away from the pockets to positions over. the same.

14. In a button stenciling machine, the combination with a rotatable disk provided withperipheral button pockets, of stencils arranged above the pockets and guided to move in radial lines on the disk, means co-- operating with said stencils during the rotation of the disk for reciprocating them.

15. In a button stenciling machine, the combination with a continuously rotating disk, button seats on its upper surface and radially extending guides arranged rela-, tively to each seat, of stencils carried on the guides and means cooperating with said stencils to cause them to move relatively to their respective button seats upon the rotarymovement of the disk.

16. In a button stenciling machine, the

masses combination with a circular carrier, button tions projecting through the apertures in the carrier and engaging the cam track.

18. In a button stenciling machine, the I combination with a circular carrier provided with button seats and having slots arranged relatively to said seats and provided with guides adjacent the slots, of stencils carried in the guides and provided with projections extending through the slots and a cam track underlying the carrier cooperating with said projections, said cam track being shaped to effect a reciprocatory action of'the stencils on the carrier during its rotary movement.

19. In a button stenciling machine, the combination with a continuously movable carrier having button seats and .provided with guides at one side of said seats, of frames sliding in the guides, a plurality of stencils carried on each frame and means for projecting the frames to successively position different ones of their respective stencils over the button seats.

20. In a button stenciling machine, the combination with a carrier provided with a plurality of button pockets, frame pieces guided on the carrier at one side of each of said pockets and means for moving the carrier continuously in one direction, of a plurality of stencils arranged on each frame, and means acting during the movement of the carrier for successively projecting said frames by a step by step movement which positions the stencils successively above the button pockets and permits them to temporarily dwell in such positions.

21. In a button stenciling machine, the combination with a carrier provided with button seats, a plurality of frame pieces spaced peripherally on the carrier and stencils mounted-on the frame pieces, of a plurality of spraying apparatuses for applying stenciling solutions, of means for adjusting said frames to position their different stencils successively over the button seats, means for moving the carriercontinuously in one direction and means for intermittently operating the spraying devices.

22. In a button stenciling machine, the combination with a continuously moving carrier having button seats, of a plurality of frames each having a set of stencils comprising a plurality of separate stencil charts and adapted to coiiperate with a respective button seat, means for operating said frames to successively position their separate charts over their respective button seats at given points in the path of movement of the carrier, and mechanism for applying stenciling substances to the different charts when in operative positions.

23. In a button stenciling machine, the combination with a carrier provided with a plurality of button seats, a frame for each seat having a set of stencils comprising two or more stencil charts,-means for operating said frames intermittently to position the separate stencils over the button seats and means for driving the carrier, of a plurality of mechanisms for applying stenciling material to the stencils. and means for operating said mechanisms.

24. In a button stenciling machine, the combination with a carrier having button seats, of a plurality of separate mechanisms for applying stenciling substances and a plurality of sets of stencils for each seat, each of said sets comprising a plurality of stencils, of means for bodily operating each set intermittently to successively position one of its respective stencils over its button seat and beneath said applying mechanisms, and means for operating each of said applying mechanisms periodically to apply a stenciling material from each to a particular stencil.

25. In a button stenciling machine, the

combination with a carrier for buttons, a set of stencils on the carrier comprising a plurality of stencil charts and means for operating the set bodily to successively position each of said charts over its respective button on the carrier, of a plurality of devices for spraying difi'erent stenciling fluids onto the different stencil charts and means for advancing the carrier and intermittently operating the difl'erent spraying mechanisms.

26. In a button stenciling machine, the

combination with a button carrier and a plurality of sets of stencils thereon, each comprising two or more stencil charts, of means for moving the carrier and bodily moving the different sets of stencils to successively position the different stencil charts of each set over buttons on the carrier, of a plurality of mechanisms for applying stenciling material, arranged above the path of travel of the carrier and stencil charts, and

means for operating the stenciling applying mechanisms in timed relation to the movements of the carrier and stencil charts. I 27. In a button spraying machine, the combination with a carrier adapted to receive buttons in spaced relation thereon, a plurality of sets of stencils thereon, each set comprising two or more separate stencil charts and means for continuously advancdifierent stenciling materials,

ing the button carrier and successively adjusting each set of stencils bodily to position its respective stencil charts over its respective underlying button on the carrier at different points in the movement of the latter, of separate spraying nozzles, for applying normally open valves and means for closing each of said valves periodically.

28. In a button stenciling machine, the combination with a movable carrier, devices for placing buttons thereon and other devices for subsequently removing said buttons from the carrier, of a plurality of mov able stencils adapted to be operated to cooperate With buttons placed on the carrier during the period of movement of the carrier between said applying and removing devices, of mechanism for applying stenciling material arranged between the button applying and removing devices and coiiperating with the successive stencils.

29. In a button stenciling machine, the combination with a movable carrier, devices for placing buttons thereon and other devices for removing said buttons therefrom and a plurality of stencils coiiperating successively with buttons applled to said carcombination with a movable carrier, devices for applying buttons thereto, other devices a for removing buttons therefrom, a spraying apparatus arranged between the feeding and removing devices, of a plurality of stencils mounted on the carrier and adapted to, co-

operate successively with the buttons placed thereon, means for driving the carrier, feed- -ing and removing devices at alternately slow and accelerated rates of speed, and relatively timed mechanism for operating the spraying apparatus during the slower movement of said parts.

31. In a button stenciling machine, the combination with a receptacle adapted to contain a liquid bath, a continuously movable carrier passing into the bath at one point, and emerging therefrom at another and adapted to receive buttons, of stencils mounted on the carrier and adapted to co-, operate with buttons placed thereon' and movable with the carrier through the bath.

32. In a button stenciling machine, the combination with a'carrier adapted to receive buttons and movable stencils thereon, of a liquid cleaning bath in which a portion of the carrier is submerged, and means for comprising agitating the stencils durih their passage through the bath.

33. In a button stenciling machine, the

combination with'a carrier adapted to rewhich 'a portion of the carrier is submerged,

of a source of liquid supply for the bath comprising a discharge nozzle directlng fluid under pressure .against the stencils during their passage through the bath.

34. In a button stenciling machine, the combination with an endless carriefadapted to receive buttons and stencils mounted thereon, of a bath in which a portion of the carrier and stencils are constantly submerged, means for circulating the liquid in the bath, comprising an inlet nozzle having orificesarranged to discharge the bath fluidin'contact with the stencils and submerged portion of the carrier.

.35. In a button stenciling machine, the combination with a continuously movable endless carrier adapted to receive buttons and a plurality of stencils mounted thereon adapted to cooperate with each button, of a bath of liquid cleaning solution immersing a portion of the carrier and the stencils, an auxiliary reservoir and a circulating system for the bath, comprising an overflow and an inlet pipe leading from the reservoir and terminating in a nozzle provided with a plurality of orifices for discharging said liquid into direct contact with the carrier and stencils.

36. Ina button stenciling machine, the combination with a circular button carrier rotating in an inclined plane and adapted to receive buttons about its periphery, a plurality of stencils mounted on the carrier, and a liquid bath surrounding the lower edge portion of the latter and means for continuously rotating said carrier.

37. In a button. stenciling machine, the combination with a disk mounted to rotate in an inclined plane and adapted to receive buttons along its upper edge, of a succession of stencils mounted on the disk at equidistant points about its circumference, of a liquid bath surrounding the lower portion of the disk and the stencils thereon, driving devices for rotating the disk continuously and means'for agitating the stencils during their passage through the bath.

38. In a button stenciling machine, the combination with a circular carrier rotating in an inclined plane and adapted to receive buttons along its upper edge and having stencils mounted for radial reciprocatory movement, of a liquid bath surrounding the lower edge portion of the carrier, a fluid discharge nozzle in the bath and-means for projecting the stencils outwardly on the carrier at the point where they pass said nozzle.

masses 'movementand arranged to extend beyond the edge of the carrier, of a nozzle adapted to dischargea cleaning fluid arranged at one side of the carrier and means for projecting the stencils outwardly thereon when they pass said nozzle.-

'40. In a button stenciling machine, the combination with a circular carrier rotating in an inclined plane and adapted to receive buttons along its upper edge and having stencils mounted for radial reciprocatory movement and arranged to extend beyond the edge of the carrier, of a bifurcated nozzle adapted to discharge a cleaning fluid in opposing streams, said nozzle being arranged at one side of the carrier and means for projecting the stencils outwardly be tween the bifurcations of the nozzle.

41. In a button stenciling machine, the combination with a continuously movable button carrier and a series of stencils mounted thereon, of a cleaning bath of heated liquid immersing a portion of said carrier and stencils, and a nozzle for directing a blast of air against the stencils indh carrier after they emerge from the at 42. In a button stenciling machine, the combination with a continuously movable button carrier and a series of stencils mounted thereon, of a cleaning bath of heated liquid immersing a portion of said carrier and stencils, and a plurality of nozzles for directing blasts of air against the carrier and stencils as they emerge from the bath and means for oscillating said nozzles.

43. In a button stenciling machine, the combination with a continuously movable button carrier and a plurality of stencils each movably mounted thereon, of a liquid bath surrounding a portion of thecarrier and the stencils thereon, of means for reciprocating the latter at the point of travel of the carrier where'it emerges from the bath, and an oscillatory air blast nozzle directing a blast of air against the stencils during the reciprocatory movement.

44. In a button stenciling machine, the

combination with a circular carrier revolving in an inclined plane, stencils arranged in spaced relation around the carrier and movable radially thereon, a liquid surrounding both the lower edge of the carrier and the stencils thereon and means cooperating with the stencils to first retract them, at the button receiving position, secondly to project them into stenciling position, and thirdly to retract them into discharging position'during their passage around the upper side of the carrier, said means also act- 

